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Panicked Indonesians avoid homes after quake

Posted February 21, 2008 22:25:00

Tens of thousands of people have been camping away from their homes on the Indonesian island of Simeulue which was hit by a powerful earthquake last night.

Three people were killed and another 51 injured by the 7.5-magnitude quake.

The tremors triggered panic across an area that was hit hard by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

CARE Australia Program Manager Jordan Hoffman is on the island of Simeulue.

She says many people are still scarred by the events of 2004.

"The automatic response of people is to move to higher ground and to stay there until they're absolutely sure that another tsunami will not happen," she said.

"In the north and in the east, women and children are still staying in the hills, whereas the men have come back down to their homes."

Tags: disasters-and-accidents, earthquake, indonesia, aceh, sumatra

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